Referee assignments for semifinals at 2025 UEFA Women's EURO.
22 July 2025
21:00 CET - Stade de Genève, Geneva
ENGLAND - ITALY
Referee: Ivana Martinčić CROAssistant Referee 1: Sanja Rodjak-Karšić CRO
Assistant Referee 2: Staša Špur SVN
Fourth Official: Tess Olofsson SWE Désirée Grundbacher SUI
Reserve Assistant Referee: Almira Spahić SWE
Video Assistant Referee: Dennis Johan Higler NED
Video Assistant Referee: Dennis Johan Higler NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1: Fedayi San SUI
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2: Willy Delajod FRA
UEFA Referee Observer: Dagmar Damková CZE
UEFA Delegate: Irakli Nakaidze GEO
23 July 2025
21:00 CET - Stadion Letzigrund, Zürich
GERMANY - SPAIN
Referee: Edina Alves Batista BRA
Assistant Referee 1: Neuza Inês Back BRA
Assistant Referee 2: Fabrini Bevilaqua da Costa BRA
Fourth Official: Tess Olofsson SWE
Reserve Assistant Referee: Franca Overtoom NED
Video Assistant Referee: Tiago Bruno Lopes Martins POR
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1: Fedayi San SUI
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2: Willy Delajod FRA
UEFA Referee Observer: Dagmar Damková CZE
UEFA Delegate: Effrosýni Ppekrí CYP
This should leave Kulcsar as only option for Germany - Spain, because it's impossible to think she will be out after Group Stage, and impossible to get directly the final.
ReplyDeleteIMO, difficult but non impossible.
DeleteI would see as a good choice Demetrescu for the 2d SF and Kulcsar for F…
If only Dagmar Damkova and Gyöngy Gaal remain as observers, this would rule out Katalin Kulcsar for GERESP, unless the Czech observes the referees of both semi-final matches.
DeleteEngland - Italy
ReplyDeleteAssistant Video Assistant Referee 2: Willy Delajod FRA
I think we all here agree that Kulcsar deserved one more game, whether It'll be second SF or final match, but now when France is out of the tournament I think that last game is reserved for Frappart 🤷
ReplyDeleteSoo .. Kulcsar for second SF ?? 🤔🤔
..Also De Aza still in the Euro makes no sense for me .. she can only get final game, and only IF ( and it's a big if ) Spain get knocked out in the semi's... I mean just let the woman go home 🤷
Isn't Alves the much more obvious choice compared to Kulcsar?:
ReplyDelete- She had the better GS appointments
- She has not worked as 4th in the SF
- She has the better palmares - refereed a SF at the last two WCs!
- She hasn't done both teams at this tournament
GER-ESP: Edina Alves confirmed, together with Olofsson as 4th
DeleteIt would be a fair appointnent, but she is not european. Probably that is a reason to not appoint her in the late KO stages.
ReplyDeleteSame AVAR1 and 2 both semi finals? And Tess Olofssen first FO ENG-ITA and now GER-SPA?
ReplyDeleteAlso looking at QF appointments, it looks like they send home already several VARs - so the only four remaining ones, who don't come from SF countries are Higler, San, Delajod and Martins.
DeleteI think you are right, although i wonder if all the other VAR’s are really send home. Maybe they wait till they know the finalist. Otherwise 3 of the 4 VAR’s will get the final. We will see…
DeleteWell, some VARs from the SF countries could still be there and potentially be used depending on results. So it could be Gillett or di Paolo resp. Dingert or Cuadra available.
DeleteBut a Delajod/San/Martins VAR trio as in NOR-ITA also seems quite possible.
FO England-Italy is Désirée Grundbacher (SUI) and reserve official Germany-Spain is Franca Overtoom (NED)
ReplyDeleteCorrect, Grundbacher as FO now, UEFA website tells us.
DeleteOT:
ReplyDeleteDavid Fernández Borbalán becomes new technical director of CTA-RFEF.
New CTA-RFEF structure:
DeletePresident: Francisco Soto Balirac (a top lawyer who also was a referee in regional categories for 15 years)
Technical director: David Fernández Borbalán (former UEFA Elite & currently observer, director of refereeing in Bulgaria for the 23-24 season)
Spokesperson and head of institutional relations: Marta Frías Acedo (former Women's First Cat ref, observer at this Women's EURO)
VAR project leader: Eduardo Prieto Iglesias (former LaLiga ref turned VAR specialist, did the Copa del Rey final in 2024)
Manager of ARs: Aitor Villate Martínez
Manager of LaLiga refs: Javier Turienzo Álvarez
Manager of Segunda refs: Fernando López Acera
Respons
Managers of 1ª RFEF refs: Miguel Ángel Pérez Lasa & Félix Sánchez Marcos
Managers of 2ª RFEF: Aitor Gorostegui Fernández Ortega & Albert Ávalos Martos
Manager of Women's refereeing: Yolanda Parga Rodríguez
Manager of futsal & beach soccer refereeing: Álvaro Cid Bragado
Manager of technological development & AI: Chema Alonso, a very famous hacker (remember CTA-RFEF has had major issues with leaks in the last couple of years - leaks of VAR audios, of internal meetings, the RefNetwork assessment of Cucurella handball that provoked a collective punishment of Spanish refs in UEFA last year....)
Wouldn't it have been better.to swap the FOs? So Olofsson and Spahic would have been assigned together as reserve officials and Olofsson would not have to face germany again after fully correct, but controversial decision against them.
ReplyDeleteVery strange management with fourth officials assignments, Olofsson originally assigned to England - Italy, then replaced by Grundbacher, but fifth official Spahic was left here. This should mean that for some reasons they had to move the Swedish to Germany - Spain. Also, the cut made for the last games seems very large. Same assistant video assistant referees in both games, only Damkova observer, Olofsson assigned twice and so on.
ReplyDeleteOne could draw the conclusion, but it's only speculation, something didn't go as they wanted / they had planned.
Also it’s weird that Kulcsar didn’t get any KO game…
DeleteIt's very strange, I don't have an explanation. One should think they didn't like her strict approach if compared to all the other referees. Unless she will get directly the final but it seems unlikely.
DeleteWhy did they put Olofsson from ENG-ITA to Germany again?
DeleteI think people have misread the Kulcsar affair and want to explain it from my perspective. I like her as a referee, she belonged to a period where I followed women's international refereeing a bit more closely (the only remaining official from W.Euro 2013, if discounting Massey as AVAR, is her), and indeed is more 'old school' in her style compared to the new referees. While Kulcsar was one of the most highly rated 2010s refs, she was out for a very long time (to have children or am I misremembering that?), and then having come back she even had to withdraw during a (W) Nations League game injured. Thus, I very much expected her to be relegated to a VAR role - and her selection as referee for this tournament was a (pleasant) surprise for me. Her status can, ironically, perhaps be analogised to Kassai in the mid-2010s, when he made a 'comeback' for a couple of years which ended after the Real-Bayern where he gave a bogus SYC. A less nuanced analysis for that period could read 'Kassai already did CL Final, WC SF, he is one of the very top referees for UEFA'; in reality, he had been overtaken by a number of new names and the situation was a bit more complicated. My idea is that Kulcsar was given the earliest opportunity to referee in the tournament so that UEFA could formulate an opinion on how to use her after that. As I already said, this Iceland-Finland was one of the early round matches that I watched, and her performance in that game was not that good - she chaotically sorted out an unneccessary yellow card in the third minute, and then was too lenient after that, before the SYC which I’m quite sure was awarded by Bognar. So, it would seem the assessment was negative, as she did one more lopsided game (Spain-Belgium), was fourth official for a quarterfinal, and is apparently now at home(?). It is a shame, because I liked her refereeing in the past (contrary to say Alves Batista), but such is life.
DeleteGood for the Brazilian. I think the refs that uefa has chosen for the knockouts minus the Brazilian and the Italian have been poor. There's some good refs that weren't selected. A step down from last euros when they had Staubli, Welch, Monzul doing games
ReplyDeleteDo we have any information on which referees are still in contention and which ones have been sent home? With management like this, it should come as no surprise if we don’t see Frappart appointed for the final. Are Kulcsár and Demetrescu truly out of contention?
ReplyDeleteI mean maybe they already put Olofsson as designated referee but she blew it
DeleteDemetrescu was appointed as 4th official on domestic league.
Delete8' in my opinion very clear YC for reckless forgiven by Croatian referee to Bronze (ENG).
ReplyDeleteAnd now another opportunity with a late tackle by Stanway, minute 13. Very lenient by Martincic.
ReplyDeleteFrench TV announced that Frappart is already in Geneva as spectator. So not at home. Perhaps final for her ?
ReplyDeleteI’d say she is the only option…So safe bet IMO.
DeleteShe's quite obviously getting the final, and there we can actually talk about a deserved appointment in this tournament...
DeleteIt's incredible you can allow everything without booking and then you can still talk about a good performance in modern refereeing, then in the same game officiated by another referee, a player would have seen red card already in first half...
ReplyDeleteI am quite surprised that the italians accept that. Bronze committed two (very) reckless fouls and stayed unpunished...
DeleteI would not say good performance, but few things to do and these are partly incorrect. Similar to Huerta de Aza to be honest.
30' a bit of technical issue, but it looked like Martincic is completely not sure what she is supposed to do after being hit by the ball. it wasn't really that close for ENG team, so the advantage - for me, and for the teams on the pitch - a bit confusing. but its wasn't that close to use it. but it's only a nitpick
ReplyDeleteIvana Martinčić walks a fine line in Geneva.
ReplyDeleteOption 1: she adopts the “Vinčic approach” and will only punish clear tactical fouls (SPA) and stick to that standard throughout. When applied consistently — and backed by player respect — it will keep her in control.
Option 2: she delays cards as long as possible, only to start issuing them in the second half as the game heats up. That’s when the familiar question arises: why now, and not earlier for similar fouls?
For refereeing purists like us, neither approach is fully satisfying. ;)
She doesn't want to book any player, again, it's easy to officiate a game in this way, too easy!
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree. Ridiculous…
DeleteNow finally a YC... for DtR
ReplyDeletebefore 73' we could possibly agree that there is a certain strategy for not booking players. but now?
ReplyDeleteShe can continue with the same idea.
DeleteCards for protests and time wasting are mandatory and she can't avoid that.
Not the most credible moment to open the cards - particularly given incidents like a stamp on the achilles, to name one.
DeleteBut if the result stays like this, she’ll stay out of the conversation.
"she’ll stay out of the conversation"
DeleteWell, this comment didn't age well.
Wow,YC is shown for reckless foul.
ReplyDelete8th wonder of the world.
She couldn't refrain in this case, very mandatory card.
DeleteYou know me, I never comment about distribution of YCs in a game based on the two teams, but it's surely incredible that the only team getting all cards in this game is Italy. It's the result of a certain management where everything was allowed until a certain minute. If you analyze the full performance, which conclusion should you draw? Not the style one can like by the Croatian, but this was already visible in her first game. For me the performances didn't justify the assignment for this semifinal.
I'm more surprised Italy haven't had more YCs being completely honest. It's been 30+mins of kicking the ball away, DtR, that until late on went unpunished
DeleteSo, using your logic. DtR cards are mandatory? But reckless challenges, cards are optional?
Delete@Arbiter By my logic, what is reckless and careless is subjective, and different referees can view it differently. Kicking the ball away is far more objective, and bad for the game. It is intentionally unsporting. Of course, if a reckless challenge is committed and is beyond a manageable threshold, then it should equally be punished
DeleteNow 2YC's.
ReplyDelete1 for kicking the ball away, another for shove.
Excellent Martinčić
ReplyDeleteI generally agree. I think the game has been managed well, some strong challenges on the careless/reckless border in the 1H, but nothing that completely required a caution. Around 70' there could have been a YC for kicking the ball away, but she could generally been seen being proactive and trying to get players to get on with the game. Better peformance than her earlier game
Delete@DB: you have all my respect, but to be honest you saw another match and another referee as well
DeleteIf Italy end up losing this, will they complain about the amount of stoppage time?
ReplyDeleteMaybe, but I don't think they would have such a big case there tbh
DeleteHow could they? 7 seemed the absolute minimum. DtR, and injury after injury in the second half for the Italians, there had to be at least that
DeleteVery lazy and unconvincing final whistle, while England was attacking...
ReplyDeleteThe final whistle was symptomatical for the whole performance. Somehow just not convincing…
ReplyDeleteReally a nightmare performance for Martincic. Completely unfocused on technical and disciplinary approach. Nonsense decisions on fouls/no fouls with casualty. Brainy YC given/ not given with a nervours behaviour. Always difficult positioning tactical sense. Certainly a refereeing not up to the standard of a SF. I do hope for her in extra time with a greater quality. But till now IMO the score is 8,30, to be clearly generous.
ReplyDeleteIf a nightmare performance is 8.3 according to you, what’s a bad performance? 8.5?
DeleteThe lower level in Italy is 8,20, to give when you suggest to referee to change football role.
DeleteThe observer systwm is worldwide. Nightmare performance would be 7.8 or lower.
DeleteBe sure: in Italy the levels are between 8,20 and 8,70 for national referee observer. I don’t know the fork for international (which you concern to, maybe)…
DeleteJust switched on my TV for the last ten minutes of the game. What I immediately recognised is the somehow "hectic" running style by Martincic. Looks a bit irritating to me.
ReplyDelete91' reckless foul again, of course no YC.
ReplyDeleteFor me, great penalty call, defender hugging the attacker and preventing her from making any action.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteJust watch the incident in minute 82. For me, a clear penalty where the english defender pulled the italian player from behind, denying her of a clear goalscoring opportunity. The italians were just too naive to make a fuss of it, which would have alerted VAR to look at it.
DeleteWrong decision: mutual holding. No penalty.
DeleteCorrect penalty call for me. I think, VAR would have intervened in case of No-Call.
ReplyDeleteMartincic is one of the worst elite women referee, who can't make the right decision about the booking. It was a problem on UWCL final too. The pen decision was okay, but the booking situations were terrible and I think, it is a shame that she could refereeing an UWCL final and an EURO SF on same year too. And Kulcsár is sitting at home, after two great games...
ReplyDeleteDisciplinary contral was in my opinion way (!) below elite standard, in every other aspect Martincic wss at least okay, I think. But the last decision aside, it wasn't the hardest match to referee.
ReplyDeleteThis is the elite standard for female refs in these days. It’s not higher. People need to realise what the level is today.
Delete+1, fully agree with you
Delete@Cassius: it’s precisaly for that you wrote that Martincic performance was horrific
Delete@VG I saw better and in terms of disciplinary sanctions more precise performances in this tournament, as to mention Frappart and Ferrieri Caputi. They were able to let a game flow and develop but still showing the mandatory YC and RC.
DeleteCompared to today. I saw better from "worse" referees.
DeleteThen again, the fact that Olofsson is still anywhere near Switzerland. Tells me everything I need to know about Rosetti and his referee committee.
She spent 90 minutes allowing the match to be played in an overly physical manner. She let multiple things to go unwhistled. She showed that she was willing to go to extremes in order to not show cards. Yet, she takes it upon herself to decide the semi-final by whistling for a PK in which it was nothing more than mutual holding.
ReplyDeleteIf this is what is considered worthy of a semifinal referee at a major competition. Then refereeing is dead, and football is F'ed.
Fully agree 👏
DeleteTbh I only saw the missed YC for Lucy Bronze as an issue (quite a bad miss though I’d say). The penalty is correct and good game management, always in control
ReplyDeleteBronze should have gotten a YC in 13 and in 43. Then there was a late challenge by Stanway in around 30 and in the second half a stamp on the achilmes by an english (can not remember who).
DeleteIt was by no means a disaster. I thought her fitness was excellent, and she maintained a good pace throughout.
ReplyDeleteThe penalty call is supportable, but it still leaves a somewhat bitter aftertaste — deciding a semi-final in the 118th minute with a spot-kick like that just feels unsatisfying. Especially since the English player made the most of the contact. I also got the impression that not all holdings were called in midfield.
I suspect the Italians won’t be happy after this match. Many reckless fouls by England went unpunished, a late equaliser in stoppage time, and then a late penalty in extra time. In the end, she’s likely to become a central figure in the post-match discussion.
Anonymous, you say it was by no means a disaster.
DeleteHowever, let’s analyze your comment:
you say “many reckless fouls by England went unpunished”
I refer at the very least to 2 YC you and me would have given Bronze in the 1st half. That was not done. Then the PK. Mutual holding, no penalty. You say “the English player made the most of the contact”. These are serious mistakes for a referee, let alone intenational and let alone SF in the Euros. Of course it was a disaster and we won’t see this ref anymore for a long long time. This is the headline of the Independent newspaper online now (100% British) : “ England v Italy – live: 2-1! Lionesses inexplicably through to Euros final after chaotic extra time penalty”. Mind these words: inexplicably and chaotic extra time penalty.
@ Strixaluco,
DeleteJust to clarify: I also found the disciplinary control lacking, while other areas of her performance were adequate. Her approach to discipline is a deliberate choice—one we’ve seen more often in semi-finals and finals (unfortunately). It wouldn’t be my preferred style. I often jokingly refer to it as the “Vincić approach” in UEFA competitions.
Disliking the approach doesn’t mean a performance is, by definition, a disaster.
Up until minute 118, I wouldn’t call it a disaster. However, the penalty completely changes the narrative. It leaves a bitter aftertaste. The refereeing decision has now become the main headline—and that, unfortunately, says it all.
Anonymous: lack of disciplinary control is very bad for a ref. You can decide where to set the bar, but no question whatsoever Bronze in 1st half should get 2 YCs. That is not subjective, you cannot choose deliberately not to see this.
Delete119’: I have watched it over and over again on YouTube, no foul. It’s actually the English player throwing herself to the floor more than anything. In male football, there are several of these almost every corner kick. This ref is definitely not up to the job, at least of this importance. I definitely prefer Frappart or Ferreri Caputi.
Hear, hear.
DeleteBut you know what? I don’t even blame Martincic for choosing this approach. After all, this is exactly what UEFA wants: 11 vs 11 at all costs, maximum entertainment, and above all—no red cards, because heaven forbid a player misses the final.
As I said, Vincic has been getting away with this for years in UEFA competitions. He only punishes ultra-mandatory offences. And I suspect his lack of disciplinary control doesn’t negatively affect his ratings.
I’m afraid Alves will take the same approach in SF2.
Anonymous, sorry we may have a different approach. You may go by what you think UEFA wants, I go by FIFA regulations.
DeleteIn this case, the bar was high for one team, but for the other team the bar was low. 1st thing I was told when training as a ref is: when you officiate a match you ought to be equal and fair, apply the same meter for both teams, which Martincic didn’t.
I quote you: “many reckless fouls from England went unpunished”. Reckless=YC. YC or no YC you may decide a game.
A good ref is one applying FIFA rules correctly and fairly on both sides: if there is RC you ought to show the RC, otherwise ending the game 11 vs 11 at all costs would reward unfair players and penalize the fair ones, which is the contrary of the spirit of the game. Forget what you think UEFA wants. I’m 100% positive Rosetti does not want missed YCs and a made-up PK all given on one side. I’m convinced we won’t see Martincic for a long time, not even England would like to have a ref awarding a PK like that, may be next time against them.
By the by, did you notice in 2nd half Martincic interfered with the ball when it was in Italy’s possession, it bounced to England and she did not stop the game and said play on? WTF? I think this ref must be retrained.
Today I am saddened, crestfallen, and gutted. Not for the Italians nor for the English. I feel this way for all of UEFA's women's football.
ReplyDeleteI've been amazed by the growth and development of women's football within UEFA. A level of football that can easily be considered the top confederation in the world.
Yet the level of officiating as whole has failed to keep pace. Yes, a few names that can be count on one hand, stand head and shoulders above the rest.
But the very fact that we are here yet again talking about Frappart doing yet another Final. It shows how truly limited UEFA is in the women's referee department.
Secondly, I don't know if it's the training or the instructions these ladies receive. But it is painfully obvious that they are trying to artificially create flow/excitement in matches by calling very little to nothing and by going to extremes to now show cards. I'm sorry, but the current players within UEFA are talented enough to put on an entertaining match without the need for the referee to toss the LoTG out of the window.
Rosetti and Co, do better. UEFA, be better. These women deserve better.
Just to pick up on the idea of “Frappart doing another final” — because in my view, that wasn’t a given beforehand.
DeleteThe French referee didn’t impress at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia, and her standing within UEFA had seemed to be on the decline in recent years.
But she’s bounced back remarkably and delivered a more than solid EURO imho. Very steady throughout. And I think that deserves more credit.
For me, the penalty can also be seen as excellent call, I like when referees are strict in this regard. It’s the kind of situation that the Italian audience typically doesn't see as penalty (they even assess it as non existent), but the overall performance was not credible. You can't go on managing a match like that and then start handing out bookings only in the final minutes, leaving the whole earlier part of the game handled in a completely different way. There is no consistency. The real problem, in my opinion, goes deeper, and I would say it applies beyond this match: it concerns all referees who try to officiate in this way. It might be reasonable to allow some leniency in the opening minutes, and then start showing cards when you realize you need to change for the tone of the game, that could be an acceptable choice. But not like this. In the end, you realize the game could have turned out completely differently. To me, the disciplinary management was awful, sorry to say, but as we know, that aspect seems not relevant for the final assessment in modern refereeing. A top referee should know more how to step in with cards...
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to repeat my plea as I'm afraid it went unnoticed. I just urge any of you to check the following incident - I hope someone has a recording of the game - and offer an opinion. Just watch the incident in minute 82. For me, a clear penalty where the english defender pulled the italian player from behind, denying her of a clear goalscoring opportunity. The italians were just too naive to make a fuss of it, which would have alerted VAR to look at it. Am I right or wrong in my assessment?
Delete@Chefrem:
DeletePardon, but the penalty was and remains a wrong call: mutual holding (agree with @Strixaluco and his perfect analysis) for me, and not because used to Italian style but simply because a mutual holding is a mutual holding, worldwide. Besides, I’ m completely astonished VAR didn’t check the incident: you can certainly confirm Martincinc decision, no problem. But you must check, anyway.
However, penalty/no penalty is just one within a terrific refereeing managing of Martincinc: the question is not the approach style but if you have got a coherent strategic reading of the match and its key moments. And this referee is absolutely incapable of it.
@Chefren I totally agree with you about the lack of consistency shown by Martincic as far as the disciplinary decisions are concerned throughout the game: we all know English player Bronze should have been sanctioned with 2 YCs, then in the final part YCs were given like candies to children. You also know PK was non existent, I am sure you’ve seen it over and over again on YouTube like I have. But how can you say “it can also be seen as an excelent call, I like when refs are strict”? Strict is one thing, visionary is another thing. As soon as there was contact Hemp threw herself to the floor. There was also some soft mutual holding that’s all. It can never be either a PK or a good call. And this is worldwide. How can you say “the Italian audience typically does not think this is a Pk”? inferring Italians have a different vision from the rest of the world? Italy has produced and continues to produce amongst the best refs in the world. Sorry to say that, but although we all know you’re from Italy you seem to have a slight anti-Italian prejudice when it comes to commenting on clear and obvious mistakes made by international refs against Italian teams. It looks to me as though you think: “before anyone criticizes me for being partisan, I’m the 1st one to criticize my own country (even if sometimes the criticism is far-fetched)”.
DeleteSo except for unfair decisions taken against Italian teams, let me congratulate you for managing one of the best blogs for refs all over the internet.
By the way, I’m looking for 82’ video of the possible foul @Adiro is mentioning, anyone knows where to find it?
@Adiro Actually you’re wrong here, because watching carefully the replay shows that it is the Italian attacker behind her back pulling the shirt of the English defender (though I agree in the real time footage it looked like a slight holding by the defender).
DeleteAnd as the ball was traveling far away from both players I wouldn’t deem it a goal scoring opportunity either.
PS Situation happens at 81.20
Strixaluco, I always write what I think. It's nothing new that in Italy there isn't a trend to award penalties for holding, and these are viewed negatively compared to the international audience, where it's a clear infringment. We had many past examples (if you want, among all I can mention VAR Di Bello not considering the Inter - Roma incident as a penalty), but even before that, the idea that I would write this to avoid being attacked for being Italian is a nonsense. The same arguments were used as accusations against Collina first and Rosetti later, they had to show they were not favoring Italians and thus better to go against them. That would never be my style. I simply always report my opinion regardless of everything, trying to be as objective as possible. The fact that Italy has produced great referees nobody doubts, but it has nothing to do with the rest of the discussion. Also, you wrote: "Congratulations on the blog" and I thank you, but "apart from decisions against Italian teams?" Because excuse me, do I take these decisions against Italian teams? :)
Delete@Chefren please read “apart from commentaries on decisions against Italian teams…” It was obviously a typing mistake. I haven’t seen you refereeing international matches with the Italian teams as yet, although I wish you will soon! :-))).
DeleteYou mention Di Bello making mistakes in Inter Roma , but I wouldn’t choose him as a champion for Italian referees. Do you remember the dreadful refereeing of Lazio Milan with three Lazio players given a RC where he made so many mistakes, heavily criticized by Rocchi too? We didn’t see much of him for quite long afterwards, did we? I believe holding is to be sanctioned when it interferes with your agility and freedom to move and reach out for the ball, otherwise you should give 10 penalties every match. You say Italy does not see holding as a foul, but we have been always told too many soft penalties are given in the Italian tournament, so it looks quite the opposite. In the specific case of PK in the England-Italy game, there isn’t much of holding, I have seen it carefully over and over again, it’s the English player as soon as she felt there was contact behind she threw herself on the floor. Sorry, but this can never be a good call.
@strixaluco: https://www.streambug.io/cv/cb4fb0
DeleteTo "unknown": Thanks for the attention and the thorough response.
Delete@Chefren If you refer to Inter Roma where the holding was not sanctioned where the ref was Fabbri and VAR Di Bello, I've never seen such a big mistake where Ndicka Rome player withheld Bisseck Inter in the box so obviously and for so long that went unsanctioned. It shouldn't be taken as an example that in Italy holding is not seen as a foul: Rocchi, 1 month later, said clearly it was a really gross mistake not to whistle that PK, indirectly criticizing both Fabbri and Di Bello.
DeleteI believe that if you were to show the holding incident in a refereeing seminar as an “isolated” case, many officials in the room would conclude that it can be punished. It was a silly action by the defender. That said, I stand by my view that the English player was “happy to go down” and clearly made the most of the contact. The fall itself was not caused by the holding.
ReplyDeleteSo why is there criticism of a decision that is technically supportable? Precisely because of what Arbiter highlighted: 118 minutes of leniency, a highly physical contest allowed to unfold—only for the match to be decided by a soft penalty. That’s why I believe the call was completely out of step with the tone of the game—the “big picture”—in which far more serious incidents went unpunished.
@Anonymous, what you are describing is a simulation from the English player which is to be punished with a YC for anti-sporting behaviour. You cannot throw yourself to the floor after being touched and holding if it doesn’t interfere with your movements is not enough for PK. Don’t forget it looks like holding was mutual therefore +1-1=0. We agree about the yellow cards that were not given, all in one direction.
DeleteNo, this isn’t a clear case of simulation. In a typical simulation, there’s little or no contact — but here, the attacker is clearly held as the cross is delivered. Mead uses that contact and goes down, a bit too theatrically for my taste.
DeleteWe often see smart attackers use or initiate a contact, and go to ground as if taken out. It happens far too often, especially now with VAR.
So is it a penalty? Yes, it can be given. But I’m not a fan of this type of call; it feels harsh, especially considering the physical tone of the match and the high threshold Martincic applied for fouls and yellow cards.
It’s also true that nothing went Italy’s way in this match.
https://www.streambug.io/cv/3ff311
DeleteI think the problem is that Martincic didn't have the duel in her visual control the whole time -- you can see her eyes following the ball and the jostling in the penalty box only visible in periphery vision -- and thus the decision was a little bit of an educated guess. The call is okay to me, but nothing more. When attackers 'back into' the defender, it is necessary for the defenders to make some physical contact with their opponent, otherwise they can just run away from them free to goal. Then, it is at the referee's discretion if the defender lets go in time (this is why, for me, Orsato was right not to award the Germany-Sui penalty).
About the rest, usual fare from Martincic, who handled her three games at the last Euro in the same way: only cards in extremely mandatory situations, despite a v.good athletic profile, only decent/average technical accuracy. I agree with Chefren that appointing her for the semifinal was a bit exaggerated. Finally, without wishing to get the tin foil hats out, I wonder how much the Slovenian lineswoman Stasa Spur (perfect yesterday but quite often mistaken in past Euro games) is helpful to Martincic - for FIFA, the Croat was only good enough to be a reserve at the last WC.
The Slovenian AR Špur had also caught my eye, as well as the Slovenian VAR during the group stage (Borošak). Where is the latter, actually? It’s worth noting that Špur only served as a reserve AR in the Women’s Champions League final 2025, in which Martincic was assisted by two compatriots.
DeleteI suspect the appointment for the Women’s Champions League final had been planned for quite some time, especially since Martincic did not receive a knockout stage match — only a quarter-final in the UEFA Youth League.
I do have a theory of my own, though it may be far-fetched. The Croatian FA was reportedly furious after their elimination at EURO 2024 (Croatia vs. Italy, MD3), when they were knocked out deep into stoppage time and complained about the length of added time. Martincic’s appointment to the WUCL final may have been a direct (political) form of compensation for Croatia — just a year later. After all, there were other options available, such as Frappart and Olofsson.
Ironically, Italy is now complaining about the amount of added time — with a Croatian official in charge :)
To "strixaluco": Thank you for reacting to my plea, and moreover - for concurring with my assessment.
Delete@Anonymous 119' Simulation can be partial or full. If you say the fall of the English player to the ground is not due to the contact/holding and she was "happy to go down" for me it's a simulation. Partial? May be, still simulation. FIFA cookbook says YC for anti-sporting behaviour and of course no PK. How you say this can be given as a penalty only you and Martincic know. Show me any footage worldwide where you can show the fall is caused by the Italian defender. @Michael W thank you. @Adiro 82' 0:12 I have watched the replay carefully and I have to change my mind because @Unknown is right, although it could look like England 15 pulled Italy 9's arm, if you are careful there is a moment in 0:12 where you see the blue shirt pulled so it can only be Italy 9 pulling it. No PK.
DeleteU20 WC referees list is out!
ReplyDeleteAFC (3): Ahmed Al-Kaf (OMA), Khalid Al-Turais (KSA) & Nazmi Nasaruddin (MAS)
CAF (3): Omar Artan (SOM), Youcef Gamouh (ALG) & Jalal Jayed (MAR)
CONCACAF (3): Joseph Dickerson (USA), Katia García (MEX) & Keylor Herrera (CRC)
CONMEBOL (4): Augusto Aragón (ECU), Darío Herrera (ARG), Andrés Rojas (COL) & Gustavo Tejera (URU)
UEFA (5): José María Sánchez Martínez (ESP), Maurizio Mariani (ITA), João Pinheiro (POR), Sandro Schärer (SUI) & Irfan Peljto (BIH)
if we all agree on Frappart as final referee, who will be her FO? my guess would be Ferrieri Caputi, which would be well deserved (I would even agree on a final appointment as main referee as her QF performance was very good!). Probably Kulcsar as conpensation for not getting a KO match?
ReplyDeleteLooks like Alves Batista came to do her job today. Also, good to see a very clear offside called immediately
ReplyDeleteAgreed, firm and "technical" start, giving two YCs, one for a reckless foul, one for SPA far in the own half. Good.
Delete26' strong warning but in my opinion missed YC. otherwise very strict so far, refreshing to see.
ReplyDeleteA little fussy in the first half. The Spanish YC seemed very harsh compared with the rest of the tournament. Also not convinced the attacker had interfered around 37' when given offside by AR2. I don't think it just generally being not a great game of football has helped either though
ReplyDeleteLack of respect perfect caution Spain!
DeleteNo handball, correctly assessed
ReplyDeleteTonight we see a strong referee and an excellent referee! It can happens mistake later but correct attitude, I am the referee, noone else!
ReplyDeleteTo be fair. The level of difficulty in this game is af it’s 14 year old kids playing. Almost nothing is happening.
Deletethat is not true in my opinion @VG
Deletethere were reckless tackles, SPAish actions and a handball in penalty area. there were more difficult games, but this is not very easy.
The bar was set so low by Martincic yesterday that Alves Batista at 50% of her ability would easily surpass what we saw yesterday.
DeleteCorrect!
DeleteWhen three (GER, ENG, NED) of your major FA's don't have (provide) a top-level referee to be chosen for a major tournament.
ReplyDeleteThis is what you end up with.
You end up depending on referees from minor FA's to get the job done.
Thus, the reason the UEFA Ref Comm is having to depend on a Swede, a couple of Romanians, a Macedonian, and a Croat to get the job done in its top-tier women's competitions.
Don't get me wrong. Referees from minor FA's can most certainly be world class. But these ladies aren't that haven't been that, nor will they ever be that.
But this is what the UEFA Ref Comm is stuck with.
Well, Staubli and Foster are among the most missed — from Switzerland and Wales respectively. They were good.
DeleteEngland had Rebecca Welch, but she has since retired. It’s strange not to see a German representative, given their rich history (Steinhaus, Hussein, etc.).
Actually, the Netherlands has no Elite referees — and never had. They are far, far behind.
In Germany there is a very talented referee coming: Fabienne Michel.
DeleteBoth Welch and Foster are working together in the English Leagues
DeleteAgree. With the absence of Foster, Monzul, Stabli and Welch, the number of top performances in EURO25 have been too few. Olofsson and Martincic have not been able to replace those great referees. On the positive side: Kulcsar, Alves Batista and Frappart - well done!
DeleteShe has forgot 8 seconds rule, now 2 times 20 seconds Berger!
ReplyDeleteEveryone has forgotten it. It's pointless to change from 6 to 8 seconds. The problem was never that an indirect free kick was too harsch. The problem is that 6 or 8 seconds is ridiculous. Change it to 12 and be completely strict with it. The pro refs have already made it impossible for amateur refs to call it.
DeleteThis rule change was forgotten by all Referee Committees and referees at the top level as soon as it was approved/adopted by IFAB.
DeleteIf referees were unwilling to sanction 6 seconds. There is nothing to indicate that 8 seconds will be sanctioned.
It worthless rule modification that just allows the GK's to waste even more time.
90’ The German goalie calmly and confidently held the ball for 17 seconds. UEFA had the chance to educate so many football lovers on this new 8 s rule - and they completely blew it.
ReplyDeleteThis rule change was forgotten by all Referee Committees and referees at the top level as soon as it was approved/adopted by IFAB.
DeleteIf referees were unwilling to sanction 6 seconds. There is nothing to indicate that 8 seconds will be sanctioned.
It worthless rule modification that just allows the GK's to waste even more time.
Although i'm German, I don't understand that. Especially with the open countdown, there is a good toolset for our referees to solve the timewasting by goalkeepers.
DeleteIn the situation after that the referee counted and, surprise, Berger played a bit faster.
But it comes down to consistency. No consistency equals no change.
DeleteFoul detection has been inconsistent. A few non-fouls given throughout this match
ReplyDeleteMuch more preferable to Martincic, who has no foul detection/recognition.
DeleteRegarding the new 8 seconds rule, this is the first match as I watch when it doesn't work!
ReplyDeleteHow is it possible that all players, coaches can run on the field and celebrate a goal????
ReplyDeleteAlways happens in a major tournament! As long as time added on accurately, I feel it's reasonable enough to celebrate such a big moment
DeleteIt's the stupidity of goal celebrations.
DeleteA player removes his or her shirt. Yellow Card
An entire bench crosses the pitch and runs the length of the field. Nothing
Make it make sense.
2YC never going to be given in a Uefa semi final for kicking the ball away, but absolutely would be in some nations...
ReplyDeleteKARMA!
ReplyDeleteI'm happy that the time-wasting cheat Berger was at fault on the goal.
I couldn't agree more!
DeleteAlves as much to blame on that. If she put her hand up after 3, rather than 15-20seconds, then it wouldn't have been allowed to happen
DeleteIt's not even about how late she actually started the visual count. Look at how extremely slow she counts. She counts 1 second when it takes 3.
DeleteDon't blame the referee. Blame the GAME!
DeleteIn this case the "game" being all of the following.
Referee Committee's
Referee Instructors/Trainers
Referee Assessors
Referee Observers
All the entities bankrolling "modern" football.
And every single referee committee leader who has sold out his/her referees by willingly selling their souls to the big money entities controlling (ruining) football.
1 added minute?! Unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I think Uefa will be happy enough with both semi finals. Neither perfect, both with faults, but no major issues. Personally, I preferred Martincic. Seemed slightly more proactive and consistent, although I get I'll be in the minority on this blog on that
Of course you are ^^ ! Alves Batista was 300 % better than Martincic…
DeleteI agree with you (in minority). Actually thought Martcinic did well. Calm, let game flow and didn’t fall for Italian tactics of trying to run down clock and trying to win bogus fouls. Penalty was correct and brace.
DeleteAlves has zero personality and feeling for a game - very stern and robotic. In the way several times and too many soft fouls / non-fouls that should’ve been waved away which players sensed and starting going down far too easily when no options available. Blatant DtR just after Spain scored ignored completely and new 8-sec rule became embarrassing; German GK had 12-15 secs on every play and in 88’ had 20 twice, including one time making atracker come 30m to make her pick it up
Well done to Alves Batista and her crew. Not without mistakes but with control and with many correctly assessed situations. also with remarkable fitness one must say.
ReplyDeleteI don't post often. Even though I am not surprised at all and it's not the first time I see this happening. I wanted to bring attention to how the pro refs are ignoring the 8-second rule already after less than a month of it being active. So I posted this clip on my channel. https://www.instagram.com/p/DMdyeGdMJK_/
ReplyDelete"How the pro refs" is doing a lot of work there. This is how Alves handled it, which is unacceptable. I am shocked by *this*.
DeleteThat said, it was very well handled at CWC. So the question is whether or not Alves was/is an outlier at this event or the UEFA instructions and referee execution have been a lot more lax than we saw with FIFA in the United States? Are there other 8-second incidents at this tournament that have been called or should have been called?
The German GK was as bad in the QF against France - often 15+ seconds - and Olofsson ignored it too. Just poor as designed to keep game going and rule is crystal clear.
DeleteMy understanding iirc is Uefa have a framework of first time corner, second time warning and corner, third time YC, which can then repeat another three times. Which means I'd expect they expect the law to be followed more strictly than in this tournament
DeleteTamás Bognár had a match on Friday in Hungary. So in my opinion Kulcsár is in Hungary too...
ReplyDeleteFrappart in charge of the final (confirmed).
ReplyDeleteWhere?
DeleteEvery French media say so :
Deletehttps://www.leparisien.fr/sports/football/euro-2025-stephanie-frappart-designee-pour-arbitrer-la-finale-angleterre-espagne-24-07-2025-MO5P75NQNVH3BOOXCU67ZUAS5Q.php
https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/football/feminin/euro/euro-feminin-2025-stephanie-frappart-arbitrera-la-finale-angleterre-espagne_AD-202507240465.html
https://www.ouest-france.fr/euro/euro-2025-la-francaise-stephanie-frappart-designee-pour-arbitrer-la-finale-7ad5795a-6890-11f0-9619-f84d42b465cd
Articles are dated from 10 mins ago, mentioning a press release from UEFA.
Officially confirmed by UEFA : https://fr.uefa.com/news-media/mediaservices/informationkits/competitions/womenseuro/2025/match/2044383
Delete